Government

Schools Superintendent: District Needs Alternative Program ‘With an Identity’ to Keep Students in New Canaan

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When Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi presented a subcommittee of New Canaan’s legislative body with details of a proposal to create an “alternative high school” program for students with specific health challenges in New Canaan last week, a significant portion of the discussion focused on whether the former Outback building behind Town Hall would be a suitable location for the program. Other factors deemed equally—if not more—important were also addressed, including the short- and long-term effects of the program on the educational and emotional wellbeing of New Canaan’s students. Luizzi and Assistant Superintendent of Pupil and Family Services Darlene Pianka outlined their vision for a program that would replace New Canaan High School’s current Afternoon Instruction Program, or ‘AIP,’ which is held in the school’s media center. AIP is currently only available to four to 10 upperclassmen at a time, while Luizzi’s proposal will potentially provide flexible academic instruction for six to 12 students in grades 8-12 based on their educational and therapeutic needs. Over the past year, Luizzi and Pianka have been visiting both public and private alternative programs for teens throughout Fairfield County—some of which have accepted New Canaan students into its programs— and they shared a few of their observations with the subcommittee.

Government

Town Council Members Mull Using ‘Outback’ Building To House Alternative High School Program

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The superintendent of schools on Wednesday night presented a subcommittee of New Canaan’s legislative body with details of a proposal to create an “alternative high school” program for students with specific health challenges in New Canaan to be housed at the former Outback Teen Center behind Town Hall. Dr. Bryan Luizzi and Assistant Superintendent of Pupil and Family Services Darlene Pianka outlined their vision for a program to replace New Canaan High School’s current Afternoon Instructional Program, or ‘AIP,’ which is held in the school’s media center. AIP is currently only available to four to 10 upperclassmen at a time, while Luizzi’s proposal will potentially provide full- or half-day instruction for six to 12 students in grades 8-12 based on their educational and therapeutic needs, they told members of the Town Council’s Education Committee. The idea of locating the alternative high school at Outback had been broached with a town committee in November and the program itself was presented to the Board of Education on Monday as part of the approximately $90.7 million proposed budget for New Canaan Public Schools next year. Throughout Luizzi and Pianka’s presentation, Education Committee members Tom Butterworth, Rich Townsend, Joe Paladino and Christa Kenin raised questions about the potential costs of the program and the suitability of the Outback as the program’s physical site.

Business

One Year Later, ‘Nantucket Monogram’ Owner Continues to Evolve Customer Experience

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When third-generation seamstress and interior decorator Brooke Boothe decided to move her monogramming business from Nantucket to downtown New Canaan one year ago, her primary goal was to be right where her typical customers frequently shop. Nantucket Monogram debuted as a pop-up shop last November and by the end of January, Boothe and her daughter made the move to New Canaan permanent. Now settled at 1 Morse Court, Nantucket Monogram has expanded from a retail store offering embroidery services to a destination that also appeals to residents looking for custom design and home furnishing services or to hone their own sewing and embroidery skills. Boothe said the decision to expand the scope of Nantucket Monogram’s services over the past year stems from the stiff competition that small business owners face from online retailers. “The business has been well received, but it’s just like any brick-and-mortar right now where it’s hard to get people in the door,” she told New Canaanite.

Government

Parking Officials Consider Issuing Additional Lot Permits for Downtown Workers

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The downtown workers still parking on Main and Elm Streets—even after special permits were made available for purchase to get them off—likely never will change their habits, the head of New Canaan’s Parking Bureau said at a recent meeting. According to Stacy Miltenberg, the 40 employees of businesses in the heart of New Canaan’s business district who purchased permits that allow them to park at either the Park Street or Morse Court lots are delighted with them are “so happy with them and they’re utilizing them.”

Yet others “are never going to take a permit, no matter what we do,” she told members of the Parking Commission at their Sept. 14 meeting, held in Town Hall. “I saw this with one of the people at the shops. I can’t tell you how many times I told her there were permits available and she just continued to get tickets and tickets, and then she comes in frustrated because she keeps getting tickets.

Government

Officials Void $25 Ticket for Woman Who Parked Too Long on Elm Street

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New Canaan’s Parking Commission voided a $25 overtime parking ticket at its most recent meeting after a Stamford woman said she wasn’t aware of Elm Street’s 90-minute parking limit and that there was no visible sign in front of the space where she parked her vehicle. Dr. Cheryl Gross provided a detailed account to the volunteer commission of how she parked her car on Elm Street on June 26 to attend a movie at The Playhouse with her parents and children. “I drove down South [Avenue] and made a left-hand turn [onto Elm Street] and parked in the first parking spot on the left-hand side,” she said. “There was this huge concrete structure [in front] that I think had flowers in it…I just remember thinking that we might bump our doors on it while getting out. It was a very tight fit.”

Gross noted that while she did see the structure, which Parking Superintendent Stacey Miltenberg explained was used to block off the Pop-Up Park, she didn’t notice any parking signs.